Christian Theology, Philosophy, Apologetics

Menu

Theological Abstrusity

It’s been about 500 years since Martin Luther penned these words, so how many theological disagreements could there be left to resolve, right? Quite a few, actually (ask any Lutheran!). Without making claims as to their cause or solution, I offer a list of the continuing theological debates within Christianity which are significant due to theological / ethical importance (e.g., salvation or morality), pedigree (e.g., academic or popular), or position variance (whether quantitative or qualitative).*

Good catch = copy-n-paste error. 🙂 I didn’t want to seem like I was stacking the deck by ungrouping things like Miraculous Gifts, but yes these are each an issue aren’t they? As to Prosperity . . . ugh, I hate to lend it any legitmacy but it does meet the popularity criterion. Sigh.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Eph. 4:4-6

One faith (thousands of different denominations, multiple contrary views of salvation, morality, etc.?), one baptism (differing views on the nature of baptism and the practice thereof?), etc. …

The other passage …

“I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:20-23

Effectiveness in evangelism is impacted by Church unity … a unity that is visible so that the “world may know.” What kind of unity is present when believers can’t even agree on the Gospel itself?

In light of the above two Scriptural passages, it’s hard to believe that this kind of theological debate is good for the soul.

Well, I think first of all that this list contains a nearly comprehensive list of every doctrine the Bible, if it is to be the authority in Christian faith and practice, should address. What is the point of a 1,000 page book on faith that cannot be understood as to the doctrines of salvation? Or if I have not grasped the purpose of the Bible, then I would say that whatever purpose one ascribes, I would think that the Bible should at least meet that goal. Further, several of these topics are the very ones Protestants divided from the Catholic Church over – so one would think they at least could agree on those! Finally, as to who decides – I don’t know – maybe there needs to be a “Four Views on Theological Abstrusity” book! 🙂

I wonder what someone like Kierkegaard or Bonhoefer would say to the issue. Would it be a problem for them? I tend to think not, and that they would reject this problem. So then we need a meta question as to what we should expect. You expect answers to these questions, they dont. Who decides? How to even approach THIS question? That’s where I am at.